Cat Staying Out Night

[tali1]

Got a new cat .During day it never leaves the house.If i open door it looks outside nervously and goes back.
However, when it gets dark in the evening it has goes out - even in appalling weather . i try calling it well past midnight - but it does not return till the next day- which i find odd given its daytime behavior and the fact that it would need shelter at night esp from rain
Also , it sniffs a lot in a cupboard under stairs -is it sniffing for mice -or a place to litter ?(it does use a litter tray elsewhere)

[Buenchico]

Two houses near me almost certainly have cats with very similar behaviour to yours as they're hardly ever seen outside during the day. However every night the cats leave home, probably making their owners think that they're going out to patrol their territory, despite the wind and the rain. But I know where they'll really be all night: Shakatu will be curled up in an armchair in my bedroom and LBC will be fast asleep in an old suitcase on top of my wardrobe ;-)

Most domestic cats have more than one home where they know that they can get food and warmth, even if their nominal 'owners' (= 'slaves'!) don't realise it.

[black_cat51]

my cat does this and has done for 13 years

[lucymac]

do you have a cat flap? if not you could consider getting one so that your cat can come and go as she pleases.

[tali1]

no cat flap -that will bring all the community cats in the house- and it is rather pricey
Buenchico -yeah -you theory about several homes seems right

[nungate]

When we got our first cat we were told never to let him out at night. So he was home at night as are all our cats (we have five now)